….on a mission to live life to the fullest and want to own a wardrobe that can keep up

Sorry readers, it’s been a while since I’ve posted a missive.  I am overwhelmed with the on-goings in my company – mostly good things to be sure, so I’m not complaining; we hope to have good news to share very soon.

Speaking of good things, last week I received a call from Joanne, a good friend and client of Aysha Saeed; she owns practically everything from our collection.  

Joanne called me in a frantic tone - most unusual for her; asking me to suggest a couple of outfits that she can take to her upcoming weekend trip to London.  ‘What’s on the itinerary?’ was my first question.  ‘Wimbledon’, she replied, ‘and drinks with an ex-boyfriend, a business dinner, and a casual lunch.’  ‘This is my kind of girl’, was my first thought, jam-packing it all in two-and-one-half days.  This is the kind of challenge I like.

What were my suggestions?

← Look 1: Eye Catching Chic: Miro skirt with a Jackson Pollock-inspired print with fuchsia racer back top with exposed metallic zipper to add some edge to this feminine look.  Perfect for viewing tennis matches at Wimbledon.  Fabric is pre-washed silk…very comfortable and airy, and a splash of fuchsia will standout in a crowd.  And with a quick accessory change, it’s also a perfect look to meet an ex-boyfriend for drinks.  Of course, one wears flats for a tennis match and then changes into super-sexy heels for a drink date.  The outfit is both sexy and colorful without trying too hard.  Heels make all the difference when phasing from day into an early evening look.  Remember, Joanne is meeting an ex boyfriend, so never look as though you’re trying to look good.  Keep it effortless.  

Look 2: Sophisticated Glamour: → 
An Audrey dress is ideal  for a business dinner, yet sports a great sense of grace and style.   It’s a fabulous fabric to travel with since it does not wrinkle in a suitcase, and the fit is amazing - it shows off all the feminine curves but is conservative enough for a business dinner.  My only suggestion is to add colorful accessories, and of course, heels.

Look 3: Casual Lunch:  A fuchsia racer back looks terrific with skinny jeans, which every girl has.  And after lunch, Joanne can pick up her bags from the hotel and head directly to the airport without having to change. 

When I presented these looks to Joanne she was thrilled.  What surprised her the most was how by buying just three new things she could both update her current wardrobe and add great outfits for her London trip.  Was I surprised?  Let’s just say it’s for women like Joanne that Aysha Saeed exists and prospers.  I want to design for women who are on a mission to live life to the fullest and want to own a wardrobe that can keep up 

Aysha    

Lights, Camera & Action...

Ernabel, my publicist and good friend, excitedly sent me a text this past Monday to inform me that she had booked a TV interview for me on The PBS Network that would take place that Wednesday. Of course I was excited, but talk about short notice – I had to juggle a couple of meetings and cancel a few appointments for Wednesday’s 2:15 pm taping. The show is called ‘Asian-Americans’ and subject matter, ‘Entrepreneurship’. I was honored to appear, and such an exposure never hurts. When Ernabel told me it was going to be a 27 minute long segment with no commercial, my first concern was , will I have enough interesting things to say to fill up this time? But I did not let this worry me too much! I was excited.

It’s a one big juggling act…

My cell phone starts lighting up as early as 8am and does not stop till at least 8pm at night----and, can you believe it, this describes a crisis-free day.  My daily activities constitute nothing more compelling than putting out small fires and drumming up new business.  Since designing is still on hold (till the end of May); I’m more focused on the business end of things.  And along with all this, I am trying to have fun; I need to spend time with friends.  Sad to say, my social life has been treated like a task which has to be carefully choreographed into my daily calendar. 

Managing a healthy and fruitful social life requires a unique skill-set and careful time management.  Here’s a major rule, not to be trumped….I will NOT accept any same day requests to meet up.  Well, all rules have an exception, if the request is from a good friend, I may break an engagement to fit him / her in.  And if inviter is someone I don’t know or barely know, well, forget it!  So don’t text me at 5pm to ask me out that very same evening.  ‘Your can’t be serious!’,  Asking me to anything, especially anything I’m ambivalent toward, is, if not downright insulting, certainly insulting.  What am I, just sitting around waiting for you to make my day?  I’m no back-up plan for anyone.  Mind you, a year ago I didn’t have these rules; hell, my calendar was empty.  Oh, how times change and we change with them.

….check out the source

It’s easier to criticize than to create --- I have heard this line too often, and now it is really starting to hit home.  With my recent TV appearance, and many other public speaking engagements, I am putting myself out there as I talk about my life as a designer and the products I design.  Overall, I am getting great feedback and support.  But every now and then I do hear negative feedback.  I like to think that most negative criticism is given to help me create a better product?  But I am now at a point where I need to figure where to draw the line.  If I start to listen to every suggestion thrown my way, nothing will get done.  I’ll lose myself and be left with zero creativity to work with.